EVERETT — The Firewheel Community Coffeehouse is in danger of closing after owner Mike LaPointe fell behind on the rent.
LaPointe now is trying to raise $20,000 to keep the business open. He’s set up an online fund-raiser and plans other events at the shop. On Saturday, a group called Working Moms of Snohomish County has scheduled a bake sale at the shop, with the proceeds going to help keep the doors open.
LaPointe said he definitely plans to pay back his landlord and takes responsibility for having gotten into tough financial straits.
He ran for Congress in the last three election cycles, and when he was campaigning, he wasn’t able to work, cutting into income, he said.
“I take my tips, pay taxes on my tips, and put the rest back in the till. That’s the only way we’ve been able to stay open,” LaPointe said.
The shop also has run into more routine problems, such as equipment needing to be repaired or replaced, or insurance. He said his landlord has been tolerant so far, but he’s now under the gun to come up with the back rent, or he’ll be evicted.
“Time and again I’ve had to go to her and say we’re behind because the equipment blew up or whatever,” LaPointe said.
Business picked up in October even outside of his fundraising efforts, but he said he’s been given a rolling deadline to pay $6,000 every two weeks until his debt is repaid. He said he’d made one payment, and was about halfway to the second.
Calls to the landlord and her attorney were not returned.
As of Friday, the online fundraiser (at gofundme.com/ttb9sxg) has brought in about $9,000 of the goal, mostly in donations of $100 or less. The single outlier was a reported $5,000 contribution from an anonymous donor.
The Firewheel is not a registered nonprofit, however, so donations are not tax-deductible. No one at the shop is a paid employee.
Teens living at Cocoon House have worked in the shop to gain some job experience before they graduate. LaPointe is a former employee of Cocoon House.
Cocoon House CEO Cassie Franklin said she wasn’t sure if any residents were currently volunteering there, but said it wasn’t a concern that the Firewheel was organized as a limited liability company rather than a nonprofit.
“The fact that Mike’s a former employee, he’s passed the background checks,” she said. “It’s a safe place for kids to volunteer and spend their time.”
The business’ revenues also come from sales of coffee and pastries, artwork and events.
“Basically everything is going to be a fundraiser between now and the end of the year,” LaPointe said.
The Firewheel at its old location near Xfinity Arena was a center of activity for the Occupy movement and a variety of other political causes. LaPointe had been active in the movement and bought the shop five years ago with a partner to keep their meeting space open.
About three years ago he moved the business to its current location at 2727 Colby Ave.
His goal was to create a town square where all are welcome, not just those aligned with left-wing political causes. Civic groups use the space for meetings free of charge, and homeless people are welcomed and often given a free cup of coffee.
On Wednesday, an argument inside the shop turned into a fight out front. LaPointe said he was in the back of the shop at the time and didn’t see it until afterward.
Police said it was an altercation between two men, and no weapons were involved. One was released from the hospital, but the other, an occasional visitor to the Firewheel, sustained more serious injuries and later died.
Other business owners on the block said that incident was unusual.
“It’s not really a thing,” said Brad Heyne, the manager of Silver Cup Coffee down the block. “Occasionally we have some issues with random people, but nothing like that.”
Mike Garton, the owner of the Colby Diner across the street, said he occasionally will find a homeless person sleeping in the restaurant’s doorway in the early mornings, but that’s the extent of unusual activity.
LaPointe said he’s both determined to keep his dream of a town square going and accepting of the consequences he might soon face.
“I’m kind of up against it, and whatever happens, happens,” he said. “We can’t lose the Firewheel, we just can’t, it’s too important.”
Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.
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